Influence of early life factors on body mass index trajectory during childhood: a population‐based longitudinal analysis in the Western Brazilian Amazon

Low‐ to middle‐income countries may experience the occurrence of a dual burden of under and overnutrition. To better understand the overall progression of body mass index (BMI) during childhood, we estimated average BMI‐for‐age z‐score (BAZ) growth curves in a population‐based longitudinal study of 255 children living in the Brazilian Amazon. Children were aged 0.1–5.5 years at recruitment (2003). We collected data on socio‐economic and maternal characteristics, children's birthweight and infant feeding practices. Child anthropometric measurements were taken in 2003, 2007 and 2009. BAZ differences among categories of exposure variables were calculated at 6 and 12 months, and 2, 7 and 10 years. At baseline, the mean (standard deviation) age was 2.6 (1.4) years; 12.9% were overweight and 3.9% thin. After adjustment, mean BAZ estimates were mostly negative. Boys were close to the median value for BAZ until 12 months, whereas girls were below the median (P = 0.05). Children from households above the wealth median were 0.36 z‐ and 0.49 z‐less underweight than poorer children at 7 and 10 years, respectively (P < 0.01). Maternal BMI was positively associated with children's BAZ since 12 months old; BAZ in children from overweight mothers was higher by 0.69 compared with their counterparts at 10 years (P < 0.01). Birthweight was positively related to BAZ up until 2 years (P = 0.01). Socio‐economic background and maternal nutritional status are important predictors of BAZ throughout childhood. Although excessive weight gain is a public health concern, it is critical to restrict inequities, while promoting healthier growth in developing countries.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110869/1/mcn12005.pd

Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) otoliths reveal growth differences between two areas of the Spanish Mediterranean Sea

In the Mediterranean, small pelagic provide the larger catches, based mainly on 2 species: anchovy and sardine (Sardina pilchardus). Although the Mediterranean Sea is considered oligotrophic, there are areas with increased production due to their unique conditions related to the bathymetry, hydrography and meteorology. In the Spanish Mediterranean Sea, there are two areas with increased production due to their environmental characteristics: the Ebro Delta continental shelf, due to the discharge of the Ebro River and the Alborán Sea that receives Atlantic water, rich in nutrients, through the Strait of Gibraltar. The amount of growth in the first year can be measured from the otolith (R1) and some cases may be suitable to use it as a tool for stocks separation. This study presents and analyses anchovy otolith R1 distributions from these two different areas, from samples collected during acoustic surveys in the Spanish Mediterranean in 2012 and 2013 during the months of June and July. In addition, the condition factor was estimated for the total number of individuals and for the sexes separately. Regression analysis, similarity analysis, principal components analysis (PCA) and the Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney test were undertaken in order to identify any different growth patterns. The results suggested that the differences may be characteristic of the existence of population groups, and these could be used as a tool for differentiating stocks

Otolitos de anchoa (Engraulis encrasicolus) revelan diferencias de crecimiento entre dos áreas del Mediterráneo español

Anchovy is a commercial species that supports large fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, anchovy is an essential element of the pelagic food web, playing a considerable role in connecting the lower and upper trophic levels. Comparisons made regarding length frequency distribution, demographic structure, growth during the first year inferred from otoliths, and the condition factor of anchovy inhabiting the Spanish Mediterranean Sea (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean management units, GSA06-Ebro Delta and 01-Alboran Sea), based on five-year data, clearly showed significant growth differences between areas and evidenced the existence of two independent anchovy stocks in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea. The anchovies inhabiting the Alboran Sea had higher growth than the anchovies inhabiting the Ebro Delta for the same age (one year old). The dramatic decline of the Alboran Sea anchovy could be related to the current management legislation in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea, based mainly on a common minimum catch size (9 cm), which should be revised given that sustainable anchovy exploitation is crucial for the pelagic food web equilibriumLa anchoa es una especie de interés comercial sometida a gran explotación pesquera en el mar Mediterráneo. Asimismo, esta especie es un elemento esencial de la cadena trófica pelágica dado que actúa como nexo entre los niveles más altos y más bajos de ésta. En este trabajo se han llevado a cabo comparaciones, basadas en un conjunto de datos de 5 años, entre las distribuciones de frecuencias de tallas; la estructura demográfica; el crecimiento durante el primer año, inferido empleando otolitos y el factor de condición de individuos de anchoa recogidos en el Mediterráneo español (unidades de gestión de la General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, GSA06-Delta del Ebro y GSA01-Mar de Alborán), mostrando diferencias significativas entre áreas y evidenciando la existencia de dos stocks de anchoa independientes en el Mediterráneo español. Las anchoas procedentes del mar de Alborán presentaron un mayor crecimiento que aquellas procedentes del Delta de Ebro para la misma edad (1 año). La dramática disminución de la población de anchoa del mar de Alborán podría estar relacionada con la aplicación de una única legislación para todo el Mediterráneo español basada, principalmente, en una misma talla de primera captura (9 cm), que debería ser revisada puesto que la explotación sostenible de la anchoa es de crucial importancia para el equilibrio de la cadena trófica pelágicaVersión del edito